Analysis of stakeholders towards E-Sap-An ICT tool for pest management - An empirical study

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(4): 1489-1497

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences
ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 8 Number 04 (2019)
Journal homepage:

Original Research Article

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Analysis of Stakeholders towards E-Sap-An ICT Tool for Pest
Management-An Empirical Study
G.N. Maraddi1*, A. Prabhuraj2 and G.M. Hiremath3
1

2

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Gangavathi, UAS, Raichur, India
Entomology, 3Agricultural Economics, AC, Raichur, University of Agricultural Sciences,
Raichur–584 102, Karnataka, India
*Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

Keywords
e-SAP, Perception,
Field facilitator,
Farmers and
Relationship with
SES status

Article Info

Accepted:
12 March 2019
Available Online:
10 April 2019

The research study was conducted in northeastern region of Karnataka (NEK) to assess the
perception of the stake holders of e-SAP dissemination tool. The ex-post-facto research
design was used for the study with 384 stakeholders. e-SAP is an important ICT flat form,
which facilitates the access of relevant, technical feasible, economically affordable with
socially acceptable information to the decision making system of various stakeholders in
agriculture field. e-SAP refers to electronic solutions against agriculture pest. It enables the
rapid & effective dissemination of need based and fruitful technologies to farm lands and
delivery of farm data in various farms to different stake holders like Farmers, Extension
officers, Researchers, Policy makers and other users. This technology is successfully
designed, tested & adopted by University of Agricultural Sciences Raichur in association
with Tene Agriculture solutions private limited, Bangalore. e-SAP plays pivotal role in
minimization of crop losses due to incidence of pest. About half of the (45.95%) the field
facilitator belongs to high perception category, whereas nearly equal percentage of the
farmers were shared and identified in medium to high category (36.98 % and 32.55 %).
The statement-wise perception analysis is skewed towards higher side for both field
facilitator and farmers. The correlation analyses revealed that, age and education of the
farmers had shown negative and significant relationship with their perception towards esap at 1% level of probability in management of pest. It seems age old farmers and long
experienced farmers had negative perception towards e-sap. Education, Risk orientation
and Information management had shown positive and significant relationship with their
perception towards e-SAP at 1% level of probability, whereas Management orientation has
shown positive and significant relationship with their perception towards e-SAP at 5%
level of probability.

Introduction
e-SAP is one of the important emerging and

efficient dissemination tool for agricultural
pest management. e-SAP refers to electronic

solution for agricultural pest management. eSAP is a ground – breaking application built
on the backdrop of agricultural pest
management. It foundation lies on a unique
platform that facilitates the storage access and

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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(4): 1489-1497

transfer information between all stake holders
in agriculture. It enables rapid and delivery of
farm data in various forms including
multimedia to researchers, policymakers and
other users in real time. e-sap has been
successfully built and tested and deployed by
UAS Raichur in association with Tene
agriculture solution pvt. ltd, Bangalore. eSAP is novel ICT platform and dedicated
field device capable of making two way
information exchange in real time is available
today. With huge potential for revolutionizing
transfer of technology system, it has opened
doorway for the future particularly in India
and world in general. The potential is such
that any new agricultural technology can be
communicated in an extremely effective
manner in real time directly to the field, for

instance, if new pest management strategy has
to be disseminated to many field workers
spread across a vast geography, a press the
button in the computer lab all it takes to
deliver it instantaneously to all of them, such
information can be assessed anytime,
anywhere, irrespective of connectivity.
Simultaneously, field situations across the
space and time are instantaneously made
known to the decision maker.
Materials and Methods
The research study was conducted in
northeastern region of Karnataka (NEK) to
assess the perception of the stake holders of eSAP dissemination tool. The ex-post-facto
research design was used for the study with
384 stakeholders. The random sampling
procedure is being used in six northeastern
districts to draw optimum sample size for the
study. A scale was developed to measure the
perception of respondents by following the
standard procedure for both farmers and field
facilitator. Around ten independent variables
in addition to one dependent variable is being
used for the research study. The standardized
schedule used to investigate the information

from the stakeholders of e-SAP. Sphersmans
simple correlation test was used to know the
relationship between selected variables.
Results and Discussion

Overall perception of farmers towards esap in NEK region
It was observed from the Table 1 that, overall
perception of farmers towards e-sap. The
trend is relatively more members of farmers
belongs to high category in Raichur, Yadagir,
Bellary and others except Gulbarga which has
equal number in all categories of perception.
Totally around 37 percent (36.98 %) of the
respondents belongs to medium perception
(32.55 %) and only 30.47 percent of the
respondents belong to low perception
category. The results are in line with the
results obtained by Sankri (2013), who has
conducted a study on perception of the
extension officials towards TNAU agritech
portal and reported that more than half (61.67
%) of the respondents have medium level of
perception followed by nearly one forth
(23.33 %) of the respondents in low
perception category. Similar results were also
reported by Hayrol and Bahaman (2009)
where in Overall, ICT were perceived
moderate to high in terms of their importance
for the development of their village among
the village development committee members.
Statement-wise mean perception score of
farmers towards e-sap in NEK region
A cursory look at the Table 2 indicated that,
statement of perception men score about e-sap
in NEK region, that it makes pest disease

identification and diagnosis easier, timely
information injudicious use of pesticides by
farmers, provides opportunities for interaction
with experts, reduces the cost of pest and
diseases management through relevant
solution with the mean score of 2.48. Whereas

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e-sap is credible in nature, easy to understand
and adopt, increase yield raised with the mean
score less than above mentioned statements. It
seems maximum score 3, out of three, more
than two shows the favourable perception
towards e-sap. An outset, majority stands are
being used to the inputs and got encouraging
results.
Personal, socio-economic and psychological
characteristics of the respondents
From Table 3, it could be inferred that in total
nearly half (48.70 %) of the respondents
belonged to be middle age category followed
by young (35.94 %) and old (15.36 %) aged
categories. The probable reasons for majority
of the respondents to be in middle age
category might be that, usually farmers of
middle age are enthusiastic and having

moderate experience in farming have more
work efficiency than older and younger ones.
The results are in conformity with the
findings of Suresh (2004). It is evident from
the Table 3, one third (30.99 %) of the
respondents were illiterates. 24.48 per cent of
them were educated up to high school
followed by middle school (17.45 %) and
PUC (13.54 %). The probable reasons for the
majority of respondents to be illiterates might
be poorer economic condition, non realization
of importance of formal education and also
ignorance and non availability of educational
facilities at village level. As per the results of
Table 3, majority (38.54 %) of the
respondents were medium farmers. Nearly
one third (30.21 %) of them were small
farmers followed by big (25.52 %) and
marginal (5.73 %) farmers category. The
probable reasons may be transfer of ancestral
lands from generation to generation. It was
observed from the Table 3 that, majority
(45.31 %) of the respondents were in high
income group and 27.86 per cent of them
were in low income group followed by
medium (14.06 %) and semi medium (12.76

%) income categories respectively. The
probable reasons, which could be attributed
for varied income level of the respondents,

might be due to the size of land holding, price
fluctuations in the market and practicing other
occupations. With regards to farming
experience, 41.41 per cent of the respondents
belonged to low farming experience category
followed by medium (33.85 %) and high
(24.74 %) farming experience categories
respectively. The above results could not be
attributed to the fact that majority of the
respondents were middle aged with medium
land holdings. The above findings are in line
with the findings of Vijaykumar and
Narayanagowda (1999). It was observed from
the Table 3 that, majority (45.57 %) of the
respondents had medium achievement
motivation followed by high (28.13 %) and
low (26.30 %) achievement motivation.
Achievement motivation is a psychological
variable. It differs from individual to
individual. It is assumed that achievement
motivation forces the individual towards
reaching some goals, which he set for himself.
Higher the association with the individual
higher will be his efforts. This can be
attributed to the social status of a respondent
feels to keep by achieving greater goals. The
findings are the in accordance with the studies
conducted by Vijaykumar (2001) and Nagesh
(2005). With regard to risk orientation it was
observed from Table 3 that, majority of the

respondents (43.23%) had medium risk
orientation followed by high (29.17 %) and
low (27.60 %) risk orientation respectively. It
depends up on personal, psychological and
socio-economic
characteristics.
The
individual with more experience have a better
risk taking ability. All these are the possible
reasons because of which majority of them
possess medium risk orientation. It was
observed from the Table 3 that, majority
(44.53 %) of the respondents belonged to
medium management orientation followed by
low (28.91 %) and high (26.56 %)

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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(4): 1489-1497

management
orientation
category
respectively. The probable reasons might be
due medium level of achievement motivation
and risk taking ability of the respondents. It
was observed from the Table 3 that, majority
(47.14 %) of the respondents belonged to
medium innovative proneness category

followed by low (27.08 %) and high (25.78
%) categories respectively. The medium
innovativeness of the respondents might be
due to their marginal size of the land holding
and majority were middle aged which had
restricted them to go always for new things.
Apart from this their low level of the
extension contact, medium level of extension
participation contributed to their medium
level of innovativeness. Similar results were
also reported by Nagesh et al., (2011). It was
observed from the Table 3 that, majority
(46.88 %) of the respondents belonged to
medium level of information management
followed by high (28.39 %) and low (24.74
%) information management categories
respectively.
Overall perception of farm facilitator
towards e-SAP in NEK region
It was observed from the Table 4 that, overall
perception of Farm Facilitator towards e-sap
in NEK region of Karnataka state. About half
of Farm Facilitator belongs to high perception
(>45.95 – range interval) category followed
by low perception category (31.58 %) with
range of <42.04 and only 21.05 percent of
Farm Facilitator were identified in medium
category, range interval of 42.04 to 45.59.
This trend is due to rapid and speed
availability of information, accuracy in

synthesis with multimedia data capturing
capacity in addition to web based application,
which ensures the data generation from field
to disseminate through field devices back to
the respondents. Further it will support
decision support system of stake holders in
agriculture system. The results are in line with

the results obtained by Sankri (2013), who
has conducted a study on perception of the
extension officials towards TNAU agritech
portal and reported that more than half (61.67
%) of the respondents have medium level of
perception followed by nearly one forth
(23.33 %) of the respondents in low
perception category.
Statement-wise mean perception score of
farm facilitator towards e-SAP in NEK
region
A access look at Table 5 that statement wise
perception score of farm facilitator revealed
that, usage of e-sap helps the farmers to
reduce the cost of pest management with the
mean score of 2.63 followed by access any
information regarding pest and disease
management at any time and any where, and
e-sap helps in identification of pest in addition
timely decisions with regard to pest
management with the mean score of 2.63
followed by e-sap influences farmers to adopt,

latest pest and disease management practices,
provides opportunity to farmers for
interaction with experts and it is easy to
complete work in short time in addition to it
act as ready reckanor for advising farmers
with the mean score of 2.53. Whereas
immediate solution to the identified pest
(2.00), latest information of pest management,
in addition e-sap helps in effective and
efficient job performance (mean score of
2.47).
The results gets partial support from the
results obtained by Singh et al., (2012) in
their study reviled that majority of the efarmers (91.82 %) perceived it as a better
source of timely and quick information,
followed by source of strong linkage with
KVK (81.23 %), need based information
(77.13 %), easy to understand the message
(77.00 %).

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Zero
order
correlation
between
independent variables farmers with their

perception level
It was observed from the Table 6 that, age and
farming experiences of the farmers had shown
negative and significant relationship with
their perception level at 1 percent level of
probability. It seems as age and farming
experiences increases the corresponding by
favorable perception decreases towards e-sap
dissemination tools. Since it requires
exposure to recent ICTs tools, to use of tablet

to get timely and relevant information, which
is lacking among older people, hence age and
farming experiences negatively significant
with perception level of farmers. Whereas
education of the farmers had shown positive
and significant relationship with their
perception towards e-sap tool. As education
widen the mental horizon of the individual,
which helps empowerment of grasping
capacity of recent ICT tool in excess of
information. So use of tablet and utilization of
e-sap is more significant.

Table.1 Overall perception of farmers towards e-sap
Categories
Districts
Raichur
(n1=97)
Gulbarga

(n2=126)
Yadgir
(n3=82)
Bellary and
others
Total
(n4=79)
(N=384)

Low Perception
Freq.Category%
36
37.11
42
33.33
30
36.59
25
31.65
117
30.47

Medium Perception
Freq. Category %
10
10.31
42
33.33
13
15.85

22
27.85
142
36.98

High Perception
Freq.Category %
51
52.58
42
33.33
39
47.56
32
40.51
125
32.55

Table.2 Statement wise perception mean score farmers about e-sap
Sl.
No

Statements

1
2
3
4
5
6

7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

e-sap makes the pest and disease identification
and
e-sapdiagnosis
provideseasier
latest and updated information in
pest
management
When new pest or disease is observed it is
difficult
to get timely
through
e-sap
e-sap
provides
timely solution
information
for the
pest or

disease
identified
e-sap provides reliable and specific information
on pestisand
management
e-sap
userdisease
friendly
as it contains multimedia
content
e-sap reduces the injudicious use of pesticides by
farmers
e-sap provides opportunities for interaction with
experts provides opportunity for expressing
e-sap
opinion
of farmers
e-sap provides
information in local language and
recommendations
from ofe-sap
to
It
reduces the cost
pest are
and easy
disease
understand and
adopt relevant solution
management

through
e-sap enhances the rapid dissemination of pest
management
technologies
Information available
from e-sap is credible in
nature
Information on pest and disease can be accessed
from
anytime
e-sap anywhere
should be and
extended
to all parts of the state
e-sap helps in increasing the yield level of
identified
crops
e-sap helps
to reduce the extent of damage by
the identified pest

Raichur
2.29
2.04
1.93
2.28
2.41
2.23
2.27
2.33

1.90
2.34
2.22
2.31
2.08
2.26
2.16
2.13
2.22

1493

Mean score
Gulbarga
Yadgir
2.59
2.77
2.50
2.00
2.14
1.66
2.56
2.68
2.32
2.59
2.26
2.61
2.73
2.50
2.32

2.62
2.29
2.22
2.48
2.59
2.60
2.51
2.40
2.70
2.29
2.48
2.33
2.59
2.35
2.66
2.58
2.41
2.59
2.59

Bellary
and
2.75
others
2.39
2.03
2.59
2.57
2.63
2.52

2.72
2.52
2.67
2.58
2.63
2.41
2.67
2.67
2.43
2.65

Total
2.58
2.26
1.96
2.52
2.45
2.40
2.52
2.47
2.22
2.51
2.48
2.49
2.30
2.43
2.43
2.40
2.51

Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(4): 1489-1497

Table.3 Personal, socio-economic and psychological characteristics of the farmers
Sl.
No
1

2

3

4

5

Particulars

Categories

Young
Middle
Old

18-30
31-50
>50

Education
Illiterate

Primary
Middle school
High school
PUC
Degree and above

Raichur
Gulbarga (n2=126)
(n1=97)
Freq
%
Freq
%
Age (years)
36 37.11
41
32.54
46 47.42
54
42.86
15 15.46
31
24.60
Mean-37.53

Yadgir
(n3=82)%
Freq

Bellary and

Total
others%
(N=384)
Freq
Freq
%
(n4=79)
35
42.68 26 32.91 138 35.94
41
50.00 47 59.49 187 48.70
6
7.32
6
7.59
59 15.36
SD-11.05

0
1 to 4th
5-7th
8-10th
11 and 12
Graduation and above

24
3
13
34
9

14

24.74
54
3.09
5
13.40
20
35.05
22
9.28
16
14.43
9
Mean- 6.55

42.86
3.97
15.87
17.46
12.70
7.14

23
4
22
13
1
23

28.05
4.88
26.83
15.85
1.22
28.05
SD-5.28

18
7
12
19
14
9

22.78
8.86
15.19
24.05
17.72
11.39

119
19
67
94
52
33

30.99

4.95
17.45
24.48
13.54
8.59

Land Holding (acres)
Marginal
Small
Medium
Big

up to 2.50
2.51 to 5.00
5.01 to 10.00
Above 10.00

1
28
46
22

1.03
8
28.87
39
47.42
40
22.68
39

Mean-9.61

6.35
30.95
31.75
30.95

6
29
28
19

7.32
35.37
34.15
23.17
SD-7.62

7
20
34
18

8.86
25.32
43.04
22.78

22
116

148
98

5.73
30.21
38.54
25.52

Annual Income (Rs.)
High
Medium
Semi medium
Low

Above 51,000
34,001 to 51,000
17,001 to 34,000
Below 17,000

41
13
7
36

42.27
77
13.40
21
7.22
19

37.11
9
Mean-81796.88

61.11
16.67
15.08
7.14

39
47.56 17
14
17.07
6
5
6.10
18
24
29.27 38
SD-109130.4

21.52
7.59
22.78
48.10

174
54
49
107

45.31
14.06
12.76
27.86

Farming experience (years)
Low
Mean-0.425*SD
Medium
Mean+0.425*SD

34
35

46.83
23.02

35
24

35.44
37.97

159
130

41.41
33.85

35.05
36.08
1494

59
29

42.68
29.27

28
30


Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(4): 1489-1497

High
6

7

8

9

10

Mean+0.425*SD

Achievement motivation

Low
Mean-0.425*SD
Medium
Mean+0.425*SD
High
Mean+0.425*SD
Risk orientation
Low
Mean-0.425*SD
Medium
Mean+0.425*SD
High
Mean+0.425*SD
Management orientation
Low
Mean-0.425*SD
Medium
Mean+0.425*SD
High
Mean+0.425*SD
Innovative proneness
Low
Mean-0.425*SD
Medium
Mean+0.425*SD
High
Mean+0.425*SD
Information management
Low
Mean-0.425*SD

Medium
Mean+0.425*SD
High
Mean+0.425*SD

28

28.87
38
Mean-16.17

30.16

23
28.05
SD-10.39

21

26.58

95

24.74

29
43
25

29.90

44.33
25.77

21
62
43

16.67
49.21
34.13

24
37
21

29.27
45.12
25.61

27
33
19

34.18
41.77
24.05

101
175
108

26.30
45.57
28.13

23
41
33

23.71
42.27
34.02

28
59
39

22.22
46.83
30.95

27
36
19

32.93
43.90
23.17

28

30
21

35.44
37.97
26.58

106
166
112

27.60
43.23
29.17

31
39
27

31.96
40.21
27.84

29
61
36

23.02
48.41
28.57

25
38
19

30.49
46.34
23.17

26
33
20

32.91
41.77
25.32

111
171
102

28.91
44.53
26.56

29
41
27

29.90

42.27
27.84

26
69
31

20.63
54.76
24.60

25
38
19

30.49
46.34
23.17

24
33
22

30.38
41.77
27.85

104
181
99

27.08
47.14
25.78

27
41
29

27.84
42.27
29.90

30
61
35

23.81
48.41
27.78

17
41
24

20.73
50.00
29.27

21

37
21

26.58
46.84
26.58

95
180
109

24.74
46.88
28.39

Table.4 Overall perception of farm facilitators towards e-sap (n-18)
Sl. No.
1
2
3

Categories
Low
Medium
High

Frequency
6
4
9

1495

Percentage
31.58
21.05
47.37


Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(4): 1489-1497

Table.5 Statement wise perception mean score of farm facilitators about e-sap (n-18)
Sl.
1
No
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

17
18

Statements
e-sap influences the farmers to adopt latest pest and disease management
Using the e-sap helps the farmers to reduce the cost of pest management
practices
e-sap improves the productivity of various crops
Operating e-sap device is difficult
It takes lot of time to get information on particular pest or disease
e-sap provides latest information on pest management to the farmers
e-sap provides opportunity to farmers for interaction with experts
Farmers can access any information regarding pest and disease management
e-sap provides information on pest and diseases and their management only
at any time and from anywhere
e-sap helps in rapid dissemination of latest technologies in pest management
e-sap helps in easy identification of pests
e-sap helps the farmers in making timely decisions regarding pest
e-sap provides immediate solutions to the identified pests
management
e-sap provides information in local language which is clearly understandable
High skills and knowledge is required to operate e-sap device
by farmers
It makes easy to complete a work in short time
It act as ready reckonor for advising farmers
It helps in effective and efficient job performance

Mean
2.53
score

2.63
2.37
1.47
2.47
2.32
2.53
2.63
2.63
2.42
2.63
2.63
2.00
2.58
2.63
2.53
2.53
2.47

Table.6 Correlation between selected independent variables and perception (n-384)
SI. No.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Variables
Age
Education
Land Holding
Farming experience
Annual Income
Achievement motivation
Risk orientation
Management orientation
Innovative proneness
Information management

Hence the education of respondents had
significant relationship with perception level
towards e-sap. Hayrol and Bahaman (2009)
reported that factor of age found to have
negative and weak relationship with
perception towards the importance of ICT.
In conclusion, e-SAP is a novel ICT tool
which enables the rapid and delivery of farm

Correlation
-0.341**
coefficient
0.260**
0.054
-0.279**
0.049
0.21

0.47**
0.56*
0.19
0.59**
data in various forms including multimedia to
researchers, policymakers and other users in
real time. e-sap has been successfully built
and tested and deployed by UAS Raichur in
association with Tene agriculture solution
pvt.ltd, Bangalore. e-SAP is ICT platform and
dedicated field device capable of making two
way information exchange in real time is
available today. With huge potential for

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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2019) 8(4): 1489-1497

revolutionizing transfer of technology system,
it has opened doorway for the future course of
action particularly in India and world in
general. Perception analyses of stake holders
had skewed towards higher side. It shows that
wider potentiality for application at farmers’
field level. In addition it empowers field
facilitator to diagnose the pest incidence,
disease incidence, Physiological disorder,
weeds as well as scientific advising to ensure
timely decision making system of farmers.

Intern this will helps in management pest,
disease, disorder in least cost, there by
increases the marginal return of crop
enterprises.
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How to cite this article:
Maraddi, G.N., A. Prabhuraj and Hiremath, G.M. 2019. Analysis of Stakeholders towards ESap-An ICT Tool for Pest Management – Empirical Study. Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci.
8(04): 1489-1497. doi: />
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